I’ve noticed a couple of moments, a more subtle one is when Joel is beating the FEDRA guard to death and Ellie is watching with a morbid fascination, and then also the more overt one where she slices then stabs the trapped infected in this last episodes.

Not sure what they’re going for exactly with this, but I am open to whatever it is.

Nothing wrong with the lines Ellie says specifically imo, it’s pretty on brand for the Ellie we know from the game. Just the acting is a bit different, showing a sadistic(?) side of her for some yet to be discovered purpose.

I can definitely see where you’re getting that sense from. To me it seems less like sadism and more a natural, hungry curiosity and fascination with a world that’s been withheld or distanced from her for her whole life. Plus she’s a 14 yr old teen, they tend to get excited about the idea of dangerous, forbidden things like guns or knives lol so that part reads very typical teen to me.

The moment with the infected she found in that basement is what definitely feels a bit concerning, and the only thing I’d say felt as straight up sadistic so far. But it could also be pretty easily explained as a fascination with something that has had such a big impact on her life and that has taken away so many things she views as wonderful aspects of life before - like the airplane she and Joel see. And it’s something most people don’t really get an opportunity to see up close with little chance of danger. So she hurts it out of malice, or to see if it does hurt, or just to see what would happen.

I’m not too worried yet but who knows lol.

Eh, she comes across like a jaded teen living in a fucked up world. If anything, I think she's acting exactly like any kid would in her situation.

Teens are not subtle.

i guess its supposed to be setting up what happens in the second game a little earlier on